Straightness monitor

ABSTRACT

Lengths of rounds roll down parallel runners and over tolerance strips spaced away from and parallel to the plane of the runners. Out of straightness sections of the rounds contact the tolerance strips actuating circuitry for marking the length as to its straightness tolerance.

United States Patent [72] lnventor William L. Roberts 5 R f r e Cited:ranklin Township, Westmoreland County, UNITE D STATES PATENTS 2 470 4045/1949 Kloos. 33/174 Q 9 v Q52; 5: 1970 2.765.076 l0/l956 Casherv v33/174 E [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 Primary Examiner-Richard A.Schagher [73] Assignee United States Steel Corporation Anome vRea C Helm[54] STRAIGHTNESS MONITOR ABSTRACT: Lengths of rounds roll down parallelrunners 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. and over tolerance strips spaced awayfrom and parallel to the [52] U S Cl 209/80 plane of the runners. Out ofstraightness sections of the rounds 33/17; contact the tolerance stripsactuating circuitry for marking the [51] Int CI p H 4 507C 3/12 lengthas to its straightness tolerance [50] Field of Search 209/80;

33/174 E, 174 PA, I74 PB 1740 T H E PATENTEDunv 30 I97! SHEET 1 0F 3INVENTOR WILL/AM L. ROBERTS Z.. f 14.4,,

Affomby STRAIGIITNESS MONITOR This invention relates to apparatus fordetermining the straightness of elongated material and more particularlyfor determining whether elongated rounds meet straightness tolerancesWhen steel is rolled into round sections, straightened and then cut intolengths, it is desirable to determine whether the lengths meet theaccepted general tolerance limits of being out of straightness withone-quarter of an inch in feet of length or the accepted specialtolerance limit of being out of straightness within one-eighth inch in 5feet of length. There are no devices that I am aware of that can monitorthe straightness of a round length of material within these tolerancesand mark and sort the lengths accordingly.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide apparatus fordetermining the straightness classification of the length of anelongated round material.

Another object is to provide apparatus for marking and sorting lengthsof elongated round material according to straightness classification.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing drawings and specifications, in which:

FIG. I is a schematic plan view of a conventional runout tableincorporating my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation along line II-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation along line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit of my invention;

FIG. 5 shows a section of a bar on a runout table within specialtolerance limits;

FIG. 6 shows a section of a bar on a runout table within generaltolerance limits but not within special tolerance limits;

FIG. 7 shows a section of a bar on a runout table out of generaltolerance limits; and

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of my invention wherein thelengths are separated according to tolerance classification.

Referring now to the drawings, a round bar R is fed in the direction ofthe arrow of FIG. 1 from a straightener (not shown) onto a row ofrollers 2. Lifters 4 which are raised by hydraulic cylinders 6 raiseround R off rollers 2 transfer round R to parallel inclined runners 8allowing round R to roll down into cradle 10. This is a conventionalrunout table for handling straightened lengths of round materials suchas round steel bars. Although four inclined runners are shown, thenumber will vary depending on the length of the bars and spacing desiredbetween runners.

A first set of inclined metal contact strips 12 and a second set ofinclined metal contact strips 14 are located between each pair ofadjacent inclined runners 8 and parallel to the plane of the runners.Strips I2 and 14 are each cemented to foam rubber 16 which, in turn, iscemented to a base 18 so that the strips [2 and 14 are electricallyinsulated from and elastically mounted upon base 18. The top faces ofstrips 12 and 14 are parallel to the surface level of runners IS withstrips 12 located one-eighth inch below the surface level and strips 14located one-quarter inch below the surface level.

A special tolerance paint sprayer 20 positioned to apply paint to a barrolling down runners 8 has a paint supply line 22 connected to a paintsupply (not shown), a compressed-air line 24 connected to acompressed-air supply (not shown), a paint valve 26 in line 22 actuatedby a solenoid 28 and a nozzle 30 connecting lines 22 and 24. A generaltolerance paint sprayer 32 positioned to apply paint to a bar at adifferent location than the special tolerance spray 20 has a paintsupply line 34, an air supply line 36, and valve 38 operated by asolenoid 40 and a nozzle 42. The paint sprayers may be conventionalpaint sprayers, either a wide fan type as shown or a plurality ofsmaller sprays.

A first proximity switch 44, which may be a sealed roller arm switchsuch as a type 30400 manufactured by Licon Division of Illinois ToolWorks, Inc., Chicago, III., is a normally open single pole, single throwswitch located at the starting end of runners 8 so that as soon as around starts to roll down runners 8, the switch is momentarily closed. Asecond proximity switch 46 of the same general type as switch 44 is anormally open double pole, single throw switch located so that a roundwill momentarily close the switch as soon as the round has rolled paststrips 12 and I4. A third proximity switch 48 of the same general typeis a normally closed single pole, single throw switch located so that around will momentarily open the switch just before the round drops intocradle ID.

A control circuit (FIG. 4) has a direct current power source 50 with itsnegative side connected to ground through switch 48 and its positiveside connected to switch 44 and solenoids 28 and 40. Runners 8 areelectrically connected to ground. A special tolerance relay coil 52having normally open contacts 52C and normally closed contacts 52Cl isconnected to source 50 through switch 48 and a grounding contact of abar touching any of the contact strips 12 which are all electricallyconnected to coil 52. A general tolerance relay coil 54 having normallyopen contacts 54C and normally closed contacts 54Cl is connected tosource 50 through switch 48 and a grounding contact of a bar touchingany of the contact strips 14 which are all electrically connnected tocoil 54.

Contacts 52C connect coil 52 to ground and contacts 52Cl connect thecoil of a first paint spray relay coil 56 which has normally opencontacts 56C and 56C! to source 50 through ground switch 48 and switch44 in parallel with contacts 56C. Contacts 54C connect coil 54 to groundand contacts 54Cl connect the coil of a second paint spray relay coil 58which has normally open contacts 58C and 58C] to source 50 throughground switch 48 and switch 44 in parallel with contacts 58C.

A first timing relay coil 60 which has normally open contacts 60C and60Cl is connected to source 50 through ground switch 48, a first pole ofswitch 46 and a first resistance 62. A first capacitor 64 is connectedbetween ground and the connection between resistance 62 and switch 46.Contact 60C is connected in parallel to the first pole of switch 46. Asecond timing relay coil 66 which has normally open contacts 66C and66C] is connected to source 50 through ground switch 48, a second poleof switch 46, and a second resistance 68. A

second capacitor 70 is connected between ground and the connectionbetween resistance 68 and switch 46. Contact 66C is connected inparallel with the second pole of switch 46. Solenoid 28 is connected toground through contacts 60Cl and 56C1. Solenoid 40 is connected toground through contacts 66Cl and 58C].

In operation a round R is fed to rolls 2 and lifted off the rollers bylifters 4 thereby rolling the round R onto runners 8. Runners 8 arespaced apart the tolerance distance, here assumed to be 5 feet. Theremust be sufficient runners to cover the length of the round bar R.Assume that switch 48 has been opened to deenergize all relays, that airand paint are supplied to the paint sprayers 20 and 32 and that powersource 50 has charged capacitors 64 and 70 through resistances 62 and68, respectively.

When a round bar R begins to roll down runners 8, the bar firstmomentarily closes switch 44. This energizes relays 56 and 58, latchingthe relays on through contacts 56C and 58C and closing contacts 56C] and58Cl to solenoids 28 and 40, respectively.

If the bar is straight or within the special tolerance, i.e., less thanone-eighth inch out of straightness in 5 feet of length, as shown inFIG. 5, bar R will not touch contact strips 12 or 14 as it rolls downrunners 8 but will next momentarily close switch 46. This willmomentarily allow capacitors 64 and 70 to energize relays 60 and 66,respectively and close latching contacts 60C and 66C to permit thecapacitors to continue to energize the relays after switch 46 is open.When contact 60C! is closed, solenoid 28 opens valve 26 allowing paintfrom the special tolerance paint spray 20 to be sprayed on the bar asthe bar rolls passed nozzle 30. When contact 66C is closed, solenoid 40opens valve 38 allowing paint from the general tolerance paint sprayer32 to be sprayed on the bar as the bar rolls passed nozzle 42. Relays 60and 66 are energized just long enough as determined by the size ofcapacitors 64 and 70 to spray the desired amount of paint as the barrolls passed the nozzles. Charging resistances 62 and 68 are largeenough so relays 60 and 66 cannot directly draw enough current to closethe relay contacts. As the bar R reaches the end of runners 8, switch 48momentarily opens which deenergizes all relays and the bar falls intocradle 10. Capacitors 64 and 70 are then recharged for the next bar.Thus, a round bar meeting the special and the general tolerancerequirements will receive two spaced applications of paint which may bedifferent colors.

Assume next that round R is within the general tolerance, i.e.,one-fourth inch out of straightness within 5 feet 6r length, but notwithin the special tolerance as shown in FIG. 6. The bar will then touchcontact strip 12 completing the circuit to momentarily energize relaycoil 52. Latching contacts 52C will keep relay 52 energized and theopening of contact 52C] will deenergize relay coil 56 and will opencontacts 56C] thereby preventing solenoid 28 from becoming energizedwhen switch 46 is closed. Thus only paint from the general tolerancespray nozzle 42 will be sprayed on the bar.

If the round meets neither tolerance requirement, both contact strips 12and 14 will be touched by the bar as shown in FIG. 7 and in addition tothe action described when relay 52 is energized, relay 54 will also beenergized, relay 58 deenergized, and solenoid 40 will not be energized.Thus no paint will be sprayed on bar R.

While my invention has been described as a straightness classifier,paint marking round bars with two marks for special or narrow tolerance,with one mark for a general or a broad tolerance and no marks for out oftolerance, any practical number of classifications may be made with thissystem. Referring now to FIG. 8 which shows apparatus for separatinglengths according to their tolerance classification, reference numeral 8represents the runners as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, however,if the round is within special tolerance, as shown in FIG. 5, solenoid28a is actuated to lower runner section 8a and allow bar R to roll ontocradle 10a. In this case, the actuation of coil 28a is continued longenough after switch 48 is actuated to allow the bar to roll into cradle10a. In a similar manner, if bar R is within general tolerance, as shownin FIG. 6, it will roll over section 8a and solenoid 400 will lowerrunner sectionb, allowing bar R to roll into cradle 10!). If the bar isout of tolerance, as shown in FIG. 7, neither solenoid 280 nor 40a willbe actuated and the bar will fall into cradle 10c.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for determining the straightness tolerance of an elongatedround metal object comprising a plurality of parallel inclinedelectrically conductive runners spaced apart a distance which definesthe tolerance length, means for allowing the metal object to roll downover the runners, electrically conductive contact means spaced betweeneach pair of adjacent runners and spaced below the plane of the runnersa distance that defines the tolerance limit, and means connected to thecontact means and the runners for indicating the tolerancecharacteristic of each elongated object as it rolls down over therunners.

2. Apparatus according to claim I in which said indicating meansincludes a paint sprayer for spraying an identifying tolerance color oneach elongated round within tolerance.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said contact means includes ametal contact strip and an elastic mounting strip attached to theunderside of said metal strip.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a power source; a firstrelay having a normally closed contact connected to said power sourceand said contact means to energize said relay whenever said elongatedround metal object touches said contact strip; a first normally openswitch adapted to momentarily close when an elongated round begins toroll down said runners; a second relay having a first normally opencontact and connected to said power source through said first switch andsaid normally closed contact so that said relay becomes ener ized whenfirst switch is closed; a second normally open swrtc adapted tomomentarily close when an elongated round has rolled beyond said contactstrip; a third relay having a second normally open contact connected tothe second normally open switch and the power source so that said thirdrelay becomes momentarily energized when said second switch ismomentarily closed; timing means connected to said third relay and saidpower source for keeping said third relay energized a predeterminedperiod of time after said second switch is momentarily closed; solenoidmeans connected to said power source through said first and secondnormally open contacts and adapted to actuate said paint sprayer duringsaid predetermined interval; and a third normally closed switchconnected to said power source and adapted to momentarily open when anelongated round rolls down said runners beyond said paint sprayer andthereby deenergize said relays.

5. Apparatus according to claim I which includes means to separate theelongated objects according to their straightness tolerances.

1. A;pparatus for determining the straightness tolerance of an elongatedround metal object comprising a plurality of parallel inclinedelectrically conductive runners spaced apart a distance which definesthe tolerance length, means for allowing the metal object to roll downover the runners, electrically conductive contact means spaced betweeneach pair of adjacent runners and spaced below the plane of the runnersa distance that defines the tolerance limit, and means connected to thecontact means and the runners for indicating the tolerancecharacteristic of each elongated object as it rolls down over therunners.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said indicatingmeans includes a paint sprayer for spraying an identifying tolerancecolor on each elongated round within tolerance.
 3. Apparatus accordingto claim 2 in which said contact means includes a metal contact stripand an elastic mounting strip attached to the underside of said metalstrip.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a power source;a first relay having a normally closed contact connected to said powersource and said contact means to energize said relay whenever saidelongated round metal object touches said contact strip; a firstnormally open switch adapted to momentarily close when an elongatedround begins to roll down said runners; a second relay having a firstnormally open contact and connected to said power source through saidfirst switch and said normally closed contact so that said relay becomesenergized when first switch is closed; a second normally open switchadapted to momentarily close when an elongated round has rolled beyondsaid contact strip; a third relay having a second normally open contactconnected to the second normally open switch and the power source sothat said third relay becomes momentarily energized when said secondswitch is momentarily closed; timing means connected to said third relayand said power source for keeping said third relay energized apredetermined period of time after said second switch is momentarilyclosed; solenoid means connected to said power source through said firstand second normally open contacts and adapted to actuate said paintsprayer during said predetermined interval; and a third normally closedswitch connected to said power source and adapted to momentarily openwhen an elongated round rolls down said runners beyond said paintsprayer and thereby deenergize said relays.
 5. Apparatus according toclaim 1 which includes means to separate the elongated objects accordingto their straightness tolerances.